A 16-month-old child was bitten by a coyote in Los Angeles’ Atwater Village neighbourhood, prompting renewed scrutiny of months of complaints about the animal’s presence and behaviour.
asserted
child → bite → presence
The incident occurred on October 16 on the 3300 block of Glenhurst Avenue, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
uncertain
incident → occur → Fish
Wildlife officers later located a coyote in the same area and euthanised it.
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officers → locate → it
DNA testing subsequently confirmed that the animal was responsible for the attack, officials said on October 20.
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officials → confirm → October
The child was taken to a hospital, treated and released.
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child → take → hospital
The incident has raised questions among residents about whether earlier action could have prevented the encounter, with neighbours saying they had repeatedly alerted authorities to concerns about the coyote.
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they → raise → coyote
Months of coyote complaints preceded toddler's attack in LA
Residents told the Los Angeles Times that the coyote had been a concern in the neighbourhood since at least January, when they alleged that a neighbour began feeding the animal.
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neighbour → precede → animal
They said it subsequently began approaching homes, entering yards and appearing around residents and their pets.
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it → say → residents
Several neighbours described encounters that they considered threatening.
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they → describe → encounters
One resident said the coyote chased his cat up a tree, while others said they had stopped allowing their pets outdoors because they feared the animal might attack them.
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animal → say → them
Residents said they had contacted Los Angeles Animal Services and state wildlife officials about the coyote from around June.
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they → say → June
Richard Dean, one of the residents who raised concerns, shared an email dated June 19 in which he warned city officials that someone could be seriously hurt if the situation continued.
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situation → raise → officials
Dan Bree, another resident, said neighbours had been trying to get authorities to address the issue for months.
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authorities → say → months
The toddler's injury prompted renewed criticism from residents who questioned why the animal had remained in the area despite repeated reports.
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animal → prompt → reports
DNA testing confirms coyote was responsible for attack
The CDFW confirmed on October 20 that DNA samples collected from the child and the euthanised coyote matched, establishing that the animal was responsible for the attack.
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animal → confirm → attack
Wildlife officers had located the coyote near the scene on the evening of October 16 and euthanised it.
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officers → locate → it
The confirmation resolved the question of whether the animal captured by officials was the one involved in the incident.
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animal → resolve → incident
The child was treated at a local hospital and subsequently released, according to the department.
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child → treat → department
However, the DNA results did not establish whether the euthanised coyote was the same animal residents had nicknamed “Wiley”, which had reportedly been seen around Atwater Village for months.
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which → establish → months
CBS Los Angeles reported that the identification remained unclear.
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identification → report → ?
Allegations of feeding coyote remain under scrutiny
Some residents alleged that a neighbour had been feeding the coyote, potentially making it more accustomed to human presence.
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it → feed → presence
They said they had asked the individual to stop, but the allegations have not been established as a legal finding.
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allegations → say → finding
Joe Marconi, who lives across the street from the person identified in the complaints, told the Los Angeles Times that he had raised concerns after seeing the coyote near his young daughter and chasing his cat.
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he → live → cat
Other residents also described encounters they considered worrying.
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they → describe → encounters
Rebecca Dmytryk, chief executive of Humane Wildlife Control, said she had filed a complaint with the state on July 28.
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she → say → July
Her complaint described a coyote reportedly spending time in a resident's backyard and following people, behaviour she associated with an animal conditioned to expect food from humans.
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she → describe → humans
California prohibits feeding non-domesticated mammalian predators, including coyotes.
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California → prohibit → coyotes
However, authorities said evidence of a violation had not been established during their earlier investigation.
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evidence → say → investigation
The state said it was investigating residents' allegations of intentional feeding.
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it → say → feeding
What authorities said about earlier complaints
Los Angeles Animal Services said it had responded to complaints and coordinated with state wildlife officials.
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it → say → officials
According to the department, an animal control officer visited the property of the person identified in the complaints on May 20.
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officer → accord → May
The individual denied feeding the coyote, and the officer did not find evidence warranting a violation.
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officer → deny → violation
The department said further complaints arrived in June and that officers contacted complainants, provided information about coyote behaviour and consulted with the state agency responsible for wildlife management.
CDFW also acknowledged receiving tips about suspected illegal feeding.
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CDFW → say → feeding
According to the Los Angeles Times, state officials said wildlife officers followed up on the reports but would not attempt to capture the coyote unless an incident such as an attack had occurred.
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incident → accord → attack
The differing accounts have fuelled residents' concerns about how wildlife agencies respond when coyotes repeatedly approach people.
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coyotes → differ → people
Although the reporting documents complaints made before the attack, it does not establish that earlier intervention would certainly have prevented the incident.
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intervention → document → incident
Why coyotes can become accustomed to people
Coyotes are adaptable wild animals that can survive in urban environments, where food, water and shelter may be readily available.
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food → become → environments
Wildlife specialists warn that feeding them, intentionally or unintentionally, can encourage them to associate people with food.
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feeding → warn → food
This process, known as food conditioning, can make coyotes more likely to approach people in search of food.
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coyotes → know → food
Habituation, in which animals become less responsive to people after repeated exposure, is a related but distinct process.
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animals → become → exposure
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
